Wind energy forecasting

Vietnam’s capacity of harnessing wind energy is remarkably promising vis-a-vis other regional countries like Laos, Thailand, and Cambodia due to its 3,000 kilometre-long coastline and tropical monsoon climate. The Vietnamese government, having recognised the potential, has been keen on publishing legislative measures to encourage investment and the development of this particular sector. Vaibhav Saxena, consultant of Vietnam International Law Firm (VILAF) Legal framework Regulations on the wind power sector span across several different laws, for instance the Electricity Law, Land Law, Construction Law, and the Law on Environmental Protection. Generally, wind power projects qualify for investment incentives under the 2014 Law on Investment and more specifically investment credits under Decree No,32/2017/ND-CP dated March 31, 2017. Decision No.37/2011/QD-TTg dated June 29, 2011 issued by the prime minister facilitates wind power projects in Vietnam and introduces the Feed-in … [Read more...] about Up-scaling wind power

(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.) Joachim Seel, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory; Andrew Mills, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and Ryan Wiser, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (THE CONVERSATION) Wind and solar energy are growing rapidly in the U.S. As these energy sources become a bigger part of the electricity mix, their growth raises new questions: How do solar and wind influence energy prices? And since power plants last for decades, what should policymakers and investors think about to ensure that investments in power infrastructure pay off in the future? Our research team at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory decided to look at what effect a higher share of wind and solar will have on these questions. In our latest study, we found that high shares of these energy resources lead to several profound changes in electric power systems. In particular, our study shows how solar … [Read more...] about As more solar and wind come onto the grid, prices go down but new questions come up

With more than 50,000 wind turbines in place across the U.S., wind power now accounts for 8 percent of the nation's energy-generating capacity — and experts predict that figure could rise to 20 percent by 2030. But all that clean, renewable energy comes with a high cost to the nation's wildlife. Researchers estimate that 140,000 to 328,000 birds are killed every year in collisions with the turbines' spinning rotor blades and support towers. The risk to birds is highest at night, when the blades and towers are cloaked in darkness. Now researchers at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, have hit upon what could prove to be a simple way to protect birds from wind turbines. They've used the "signatures" of birds that are visible in raw weather radar data to generate bird maps and live migration forecasts designed to alert wind farm operators to the presence of birds at peak times. Massive numbersOn any given night during the peak of the spring migration — from the end of … [Read more...] about Wind energy takes a toll on birds, but now there’s help

FRANKFURT (Reuters) – Investment in new European wind farms and equipment is expected to increase this year after a sharp drop in 2017, helped by several large project auctions, according to a major industry body. Spending is forecast to rise 4 percent to 23.2 billion euros (£20 billion), WindEurope said in its financing report, after a 19-percent decline in 2017 due to a sector shift towards competitive tender-based auctions and away from subsidies. Investment is expected to rise to 26 billion euros next year, before falling back to 24.2 billion in 2020, the estimates show. “Both 2016 and 2017 have been transitional years for the wind sector,” WindEurope said. “However, investment volumes are expected to stabilise in 2018 with the roll-out of auctions across Europe and projects awarded support expecting to reach final investment decisions.” Europe is home to a large number of leading players in the global wind power sector, be it project developers … [Read more...] about Spending on European wind projects seen rising to $28.7 bln in 2018

THE LIGHTBULB EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt and Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) enter the training room of the Black Thunder coal mine outside of Wright, Wyo., for a press conference last month. (The Casper Star-Tribune via AP) Republicans on Capitol Hill are offering a ready defense for those who would like to see the exit of embattled Environmental Protection Agency head Scott Pruitt: Critics are overstepping their bounds. Senate Environment and Public Works Chair John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) continued to defend Pruitt even after a new memo surfaced showing the administrator's own agency doesn't think his extravagant security detail is warranted. The EPA yesterday dismissed the career agency staffer — Mario Caraballo, a deputy associate administrator in the EPA's Office of Homeland Security — who approved the leaked internal report undermining Pruitt’s claims about needing 24/7 security detail, Politico reported. But instead of … [Read more...] about The Energy 202: Key Senate Republican decries EPA leaks as Pruitt’s troubles mount